Sharpstown Gunfire: Community Patrol Funding Dispute Impacts Police Response

Persistent Gunfire in Sharpstown

• 🎯 Neighbors in Sharpstown are increasingly frustrated by random gunfire disrupting their community.
• 📸 Recent footage captured a gunman firing rounds in a vacant lot, a site linked to juvenile gang activity.

Community Patrols and Funding Issues

• 💰 Council Member Edward Pollard's office previously provided supplemental funding for community policing.
• 🚫 HPD recently ended this collaboration due to disagreements over fund allocation, despite the office contributing over a million dollars.
• 🗣️ Pollard expresses disappointment, stating HPD will no longer accept overtime funds from his district.

HPD's Stance and Mayor's Office Response

• 📧 An HPD executive chief stated that the allocation of funds to the station is at the sole discretion of the captain.
• 🏛️ Council Member Pollard notes this issue did not arise during the previous mayor's administration.
• 🤝 The Mayor's office acknowledges the council member's contributions but states they cannot mandate fund usage or interfere with public safety operations.

Neighbor Documentation Efforts

• 🔍 Concerned by the ongoing gunfire, some residents have begun documenting incidents themselves, including collecting shell casings.